If you are a resident in any type of registered care home and you (and your partner, if you have one) have reached pension age (see Chapter 42(2) ), you may be able to claim pension credit.

Capital limits in care homes – There is no upper capital limit for pension credit. Capital under £10,000 does not result in any ‘deemed’ income (see Chapter 41(7) ). Deemed income from capital above £10,000 is £1 a week for every £500 (or part of £500). (The similar ‘tariff income’ is calculated differently by local authorities when assessing your charges – see Box I.7 in Chapter 35.)

How is your pension credit worked out? – If you are a resident in a care home, your pension credit guarantee credit element is worked out in the usual way by adding your ‘standard minimum guarantee’ to any additional amounts you are entitled to, which can include the ‘additional amount for severe disability’ while a qualifying benefit is payable. See Chapter 41(3) . The ‘qualifying benefits’ are: at